France vs USA
For one nation, it is an opportunity to make any final tweaks, any 11th-hour experiments before the big kick-off in World Cup 2018.
For the other, it is something akin to an exhibition in Lyon.
A final chance for Dave Sarachan’s side to show credentials before their summer break, after which the rebuilding process will begin in earnest.
It’s not Sarachan who is the main focus, however.
Talking points
That’s because there are nagging doubts, whispered quietly in some quarters, about the ability of Didier Deschamps to guide this talented group of French players as far as they could and possibly should go.
Those concerns of whether he can mould individual talent into a cohesive unit persist, yet there’s no doubting the gifted squad at his disposal.
Any manager would cherish having the frightening potential such as Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Thomas Lemar in their side, added to the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba (when consistent) and N’Golo Kante.
It is certain they will miss full-backs Benjamin Mendy and Djibril Sidibe, injured for the majority of the campaign, but Deschamps has pretty good replacements in Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard.
There are some who believe Florian Thauvin could be the one to watch.
This could also be Mbappe’s emergence on the world stage. Even though he is still a teenager, there is an expectation. Perhaps Pogba will finally live up to claims that he is a world-class talent.
The question is whether over the next month or so they can develop the personality and the character to make their mark on the tournament as a team rather than individuals.
Deschamps was captain when France won the World Cup in 1998 and followed it up with Euro 2000 success, and this is probably their most talented national team in 12 years.
After seeing off world champions Germany in the semi-finals of Euro 2016, they surprisingly lost the final to Portugal on home soil and need a successful World Cup to bounce back from that disappointment.
They are clearly strongly tipped to do well and it’s clear to see why.
France looked a talented outfit in their 3-1 success over Italy, and it will be interesting to see how they approach the contest against an American side which has missed out on World Cup qualification for the first time since 1986.
They are distinct underdogs even in an international friendly.
Sarachan has been the interim coach since Bruce Arena’s resignation last October, in the wake of their failure to qualify, and will remain in charge for a friendly with Bosnia in California at the end of the month.
In truth, as it stands, they seem a world away from the halcyon days of 2002 when they reached the World Cup quarter-finals.
History
In the three meetings between these two nations, France have won the lot and America have not scored one!
After two emphatic victories (6-0 and 3-0) in 1979, they didn’t meet again until 2011 when it was a lot closer. But again, France triumphed (1-0) and the USA are still to breach the Les Bleus rearguard.
Captain Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud are the only survivors from the team that featured that evening.
What are the odds?
You won’t be surprised to hear France are overwhelming favourites.
The hosts are priced 1X2 @ 1.19 with USA rank outsiders @ 18.50.
Asian Handicap SBOBET odds are telling too. France are -2.00 @ 1.99 with the Americans + 1.75 @ 2.25.
Over 3.00 goals @ 2.04 and total goal 4-6 @ 2.25 are appealing bets also.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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